Gender Crisis at SXSW London 02.06.2025
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos/FEATS)
As SXSW London made its much-anticipated European debut, the festival’s sprawling program of tech, art, and music converged in Shoreditch, drawing a diverse crowd of innovators, creators, and music lovers. Among the 100+ acts lighting up the city, Gender Crisis delivered a set that captured the raw, urgent spirit of modern punk.
The festival’s eclectic line up from everything corporate to the grunge underground grassroots venues. Gender Crisis, with their reputation for high-energy, punk performances, fit perfectly into this dynamic, embodying rebellion.
Taking the stage at Brick Lane Taproom, Gender Crisis brought their signature intensity to a packed venue. Gender Crisis, marked by explosive energy, cathartic noise, and incredible stage presence. They command the stage & your attention, every single member puts their all into every second of their set. Their sound rooted in post-hardcore and punk, both personal and political themes, resonating with a generation seeking both release and resistance.
They’re a band unafraid to bare their soul and confront the crowd head-on, with lead, Rory leading the charge. The atmosphere was electric: bodies moving in unison in the crowd, lyrics screamed back at the stage, and a sense of community pulsing through the room.
At one point I was bought to tears, as the emotion vibrated throughout Brick Lane Taproom, during Twelve’s (Gender Crisis’ most recent releases) chorus
“You asked me if I loved you
I said yes I lied
Cause you were double my age
And you were twice my size”
As tears welled in my eyes, the song was pure cartharsis for me & for many others within the crowd!
Gender Crisis is part of a wide wave of UK bands using music as a vehicle for activism and identity. Acts like Lambrini Girls & Bob Vylan, who have made headlines for their principled stands and outspoken politics, highlight the importance of punk as both a genre and a movement for social change. Gender Crisis, too, channel this ethos creating space for trans people & marginalized voices and challenging the status quo with every riff and lyric.
Their set was a reminder that punk’s spirit of resistance is alive and well, even at a festival known for its corporate sponsors and industry panels, Gender Crisis helped bridge the gap between the festival’s business-facing and grassroots sides, providing an outlet for everyone away from the corporate machine.
Gender Crisis’s performance at SXSW London was more than just a gig, it was a statement. In a festival defined by contrasts and conversation, their raw, unapologetic punk was a rallying cry for community, authenticity, and change.
